Last update 23 August, 2013 by Alberto Llopis
Younger fans will not remember that Real Sociedad played in 1983 the semi-finals of the European Cup against Hamburg, team that ended up raising the "orejona" by beating Juventus in the final by 1-0. With the Berlin wall dividing Germany in two, that team amazed in West Germany and Europe with youth players in the early 80's.
Los white-blue, in his second consecutive participation in this competition, they made a great championship, eliminated rivals of the stature of Celtic Glasgow or Sporting Lisbon. That historic Arconada team, Celayata, pledged, Satrústegui, Zamora or López Ufarte went through round after round until reaching the semifinals. At that time only the national champions participated.
It was in 2003 the first time that Real played the “Champions League”, falling in Gerland with a goal from the great Juninho Pernambucano, what with 38 years the Brasilerao continues to play in the ranks of Vasco da Gama. The Real of the runner-up had in its ranks players like De Pedro, Karpin, Nihat, Xabi Alonso, Aranburu , Kovacevic o Xabi Prieto, only survivor of that time. elapsed 30 years of that feat against Hamburg and 10 years after the defeat in France, La Real returns to the elite of European football through the front door.
Last Tuesday's victory in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round, with two great goals that have gone around the world, They have once again placed the San Sebastian team among the greats of the continent. Gone is the descent to second and the journey of 3 years in the silver division. Forgotten the Bankruptcy Law, that was about to end this centennial team.
On Tuesday in Gerland a Mexican from Cancun drove everyone crazy, Carlos Vela was tremendous, He manufactured a goal that caused a French work of art, Griezmann, prophet in his land, flew to put the 1-0, which is probably the goal of the season. But the lace was given by a newcomer to San Sebastián, Haris Seferovic , who from 30 metros, a goal was invented after a great collective play worthy of the best Tiki-Taka.
this real looks good, Lorenzo Juarros, team sports director, he has done a great job as head of the technical secretariat. Despite the punctures of Mariga or Ifrán, for which he received a lot of criticism, the rest have been successes. Since Vela's signing, Chory Castro or Montanier until the hiring this season of Seferovic or the new coach, Jagoba Arrasate seems that the former captain of the Royal is right from the offices. The Seferovic thing is a scandal and he is called to be one of the revelations of the championship. For his part, Arrasate can become the youngest coach in the Champions League next week..
The good work of the quarry completes the good work from the board. Zubieta is manufacturing one of the best generations that the Gipuzkoan club has given, Iñigo Martinez, Steal, Griezmann, Markel, Aguirretxe or Carlos Martinez are some examples. On the other hand, the people of San Sebastian have recovered social peace, there is a perfect communion between the fans and the team.
Besides, with the crisis that Spanish football is experiencing, Real Sociedad is a healthy club after the sale of Illarra to Madrid, With a foot and a half in the Champions League, economic stability is a reality. Despite of 0-2, Anoeta will be, in the second leg, a pressure cooker. This year, the San Sebastian fans have a license to dream.